Malaria toll 25 in Tripura

OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

Agartala, June 18: The Tripura government has initiated a slew of measures to prevent malaria, but the vector-borne disease has so far killed 25 people in Dhalai district.

Till Sunday, 23 people, including children, mostly aged between 4 and 15, had died of malaria, but on Monday night Sushmita Reang, 5, a resident of Krishnajaypara village under Ganga Nagar police station, succumbed to the disease.

The same day in Jagabandhupara village, Karnajay Reang, 10, son of Ramjay Reang, died of malaria before being taken to Gandacherra subdivisional hospital, taking the toll to 25.

Health department authorities in Gandacherra have put three multipurpose workers under suspension for dereliction of duty.

Yesterday, minister for primitive group development department Manindra Reang, accompanied by Gandacherra MLA Lalit Tripura, visited the worst-affected parts of the subdivision and took stock of the situation during a meeting held at the office of the subdivisional magistrate.

Speaking over phone from Gandacherra, Tripura said the situation is “under control”.

“In addition to the sub-divisional hospital and government-run health centres, we have set up health camps where patients are being admitted and treated. Volunteers of Tribal Youth Federation, a frontal organisation of the CPM, are providing food, shelter and other facilities to relatives of patients,” Tripura said.

The administration has, however, expressed concern over the situation in neighbouring Longtarai valley subdivision.

“I have also visited interior areas of Longtarai valley subdivision. Altogether 188 new patients have been admitted to Chhawmanu, Manu and Chhailengta hospitals. Of them, 91 have been found to be carrying malaria virus. They are under treatment, but many others have been attacked by the virus,” Tripura said.

Apart from this, outbreak of malaria has been reported from interior areas of Teliamura and Kowai subdivisions though no death has been reported so far.

Health minister Badal Chowdhury today told reporters that the situation is under control.